On Wednesday, July 10th, the Israeli military expanded its evacuation order to encompass all of Gaza City, urging residents to move southwards to safer areas. This decision comes as Israeli forces escalate their offensive across Gaza, leading to increased casualties and displacement.
Leaflets dropped from the air advised Palestinians to use specific routes to move safely south towards Deir el-Balah and az-Zawayda. “We announce to you that Tariq Bin Ziyad and Omar Al-Mukhtar Streets are considered safe passages to cross west to Al-Rashid (Al-Bahr) Street and from there south,” stated the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in their fliers.
Gaza City has experienced intense shelling, with local journalist reports confirming significant damage and loss of life. Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesman, Mahmoud Bassal, reported dozens of deaths in the industrial zone and the financial hub in central Gaza. He added that several Palestinians remain besieged in locations like the Jordanian hospital and Al-Aqsa University.
The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the latest evacuation orders, warning that they will exacerbate the suffering of Palestinian families already displaced multiple times. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, emphasized, “The civilians must be protected.”
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen. Doctors Without Borders was forced to close its last health facility in northern Gaza following the evacuation orders. Residents have reported severe shortages of food and essential supplies, with bakeries shutting down entirely.
The Israeli military justifies the evacuations as necessary to prevent civilian casualties during their operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’s presence in the region. However, Hamas has criticized the evacuations, claiming they disrupt negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage deal. “Every day they would tell us to evacuate and we are displaced from one place to another while quadcopters are shooting at us,” said Mahmoud Al Shaqra, a Gaza City resident.
As international mediators, including representatives from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, continue their efforts in Doha to broker a ceasefire, the intensification of Israeli strikes poses a significant threat to the progress of these talks. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that the escalating violence could derail negotiations entirely.
The humanitarian and political situation in Gaza remains dire, with at least 38,295 Palestinians killed and 88,241 wounded since the conflict began in October. The ongoing violence underscores the urgent need for a negotiated solution to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population.
